Leicester must overcome Saracens in the Zurich Wildcard final today to secure Heineken Cup rugby for next season - with England A back rower Adam Balding describing failure to do so as "unimaginable".

Leicester must overcome Saracens in the Zurich Wildcard final today to secure Heineken Cup rugby for next season - with England A back rower Adam Balding describing failure to do so as "unimaginable".

The Tigers finished sixth in the Premiership, forcing them to battle it out in the much-maligned wildcard play-offs to secure a place in Europe's top club tournament.

The ignominy of having to qualify via a competition which has drawn minimal support from the rugby public and widespread criticism is an indication of how far Leicester have fallen.

They began this season chasing an unprecedented third consecutive European crown and a fifth successive English league title, but a series of disappointing performances from an ageing team have forced director of rugby Dean Richards to rebuild.

Balding knows the importance of victory at Franklin's Gardens today, and said: "It's a shame we have allowed it to get this far. But we have got one shout and it's to go out tomorrow and finish the season on a high."

Steve Hansen will be looking to restore some much-needed pride to Welsh rugby when the Barbarians visit the Millennium Stadium today.

Following the calamity of their ill-fated RBS 6 Nations campaign, Hansen is set to make wholesale changes to his line-up.

Garan Evans returns for the first time in five years and there are first full caps for number eight Alix Popham and Neath's tight-head prop Adam Jones.

Llanelli lock Vernon Cooper gets a rare opportunity in the second row, while Cardiff fly-half Iestyn Harris is once again preferred at centre to Tom Shanklin in a side which will be led by Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams.